Meet Sharod Duncan | Lover of Photography

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharod Duncan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharod, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
There’s many smaller habits that have helped with my success like taking as many photographs as I can and always carrying a camera with me so I can actually take as many photos I can, lol.

But I have to say the best habit, by far, that has helped me succeed is UNDERSTANDING and BELIEVING that learning never stops. Once I really got that, that is when I felt my creativity expand and my desire to create grow even more.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In 2019, I had been taking photography seriously as an art form for about 4 years, but I could feel myself wanting to grow and learn more about this creative medium that I loved. I had been shooting digital for some time but I felt like I wanted to grow outside that medium (and in a sense back in time, lol) to start shooting on film. I knew so little about film and it was a bit anxiety inducing to think that the picture you take is final; it can’t be deleted because it is permanently captured on that photosensitive plastic! But if I could understand it and master it, to a degree, that’d be a huge accomplishment and it would take my work to the next level. I’m incredibly proud that I was able to give myself the opportunity to learn film and its intricacies because my work feels more organic and real than it ever has.

But learning the film medium was an incredibly tough and humbling experience. I’ve messed up so many rolls (and still do!) but I know that it was all a part of the process of my creative growth which also played a big part in my personal growth…and still does. For anyone who feels like they shouldn’t try something new because it is uncomfortable or they don’t know the outcome, give it a shot anyway. And know that you’re right, you won’t know the outcome…and that is sometimes the most exciting part about getting to create.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So, as a photographer, I love to people watch! If I can go somewhere and blend in to observe my surroundings and the people in it, then I’m a happy camper and I’d bring a friend or two along!

With the company I have visiting, I’d bring them to the different beaches in LA that I really enjoy. The beaches I’d bring them to are:
– El Matador Beach (early morning)
– Ocean Park (beach between Santa Monica and Venice)
– Redondo Beach State Park
– Manhattan Beach

Each of these feels so different and are beautiful in their own way.

As far as food is concerned and being from NYC, the reputation for pizza and bagels isn’t the best. But I can fully admit that there is great pizza and an awesome bagel spot here in LA that I’d recommend to anyone. Hail Mary Pizza in Atwater Village is the SPOT. Not NY style pizza, but it is incredible in its own way. And for bagels, I’d go to Belle’s Bagels in Highland Park any day of the week but we’d have to go early because they sell out quick!

And if parking isn’t too bad, a sunset drive up to Griffith Observatory can rarely be beat. It is the perfect way to end any night and watch the sun set over this beautiful city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a huge shoutout to my friend Marzy. They have been SUCH a big supporter of my photography and my growth in this medium. Anytime I’d want to get a photo shoot in, Marzy would volunteer over and over again. Always down to try new things and create some amazing art together. Even when we weren’t in a photoshoot, Marzy would talk to me about artists I should check out to encourage my growth. It is amazing and am so glad to call them my

On top of that, I want to thank two photographers who I have never met but am very familiar with their work: Vuhlandes and Willem Verbeeck. I’ve been following their photographic journey on YouTube and Instagram for quite some time and they were HUGE in encouraging me to learn how to shoot film and, more importantly, enjoy that process. Shoutout to those two dudes, as well; y’all are doing great work and I look forward to seeing you both grow even more!

Instagram: instagram.com/photos_by_sharod

Image Credits
Rich Malary, Latoya Coleman, Hannah Hodson, Sarah Kubida